Girl Friday is the madly popular night for women (and their male guests) at London’s longest-established gay and lesbian cafe, First Out, located in the heart of the West End on the edge of gayest Soho. From 7 – 11pm, Girl Friday offers a post-work, pre-club (and pro-drinking) evening with regular and guest DJs playing Pop, R&B, Electro and Indie.

First Out was the capital’s first gay and lesbian cafe-bar (hence the name) and over the years has earned its place in the hearts of gay Londoners by providing an idiosyncratic combination of relaxed urban cafe in the day and chilled-out bar at night. Time has also seen the venue become more than just a watering hole; with regular art exhibitions for established and up-and-coming LGBT artists (gay-friendly ones too!) and Saturday a night for exciting and radical one-off parties and events, a platform for musical and other gay talents.

But as for Girl Friday, the Evening Standard said: “They’ve saved the best night of the week for the girls. Every Friday you’ll find the two-story venue packed with beautiful young things, tanking up on the bargain-priced drinks before they hop off to go clubbing.”

www.firstoutcafebar.com   

A stalwart of the Soho gastronomic scene has gone under the knife and re-emerged as one of the West End’s most atmospheric eating spots.

Kettner’s – which back in the day was a favourite haunt of amongst others Oscar Wilde, Edward VII and Lily Langtry – had in recent years become little more than a default pizza place (albeit a gorgeous one) just off the gay thoroughfare of Old Compton Street but now, under the renowned interior know-how of Ilse Crawford, Kettner’s is once again a place to behold.

Add to that a new menu with a nod to its original French influences (Kettner’s was founded by Auguste Kettner, chef to Napoleon III, in 1867), the newly added Pudding Bar for breakfast, tea or late night treats, as well as the Champagne Bar (always a favourite), and you have a venue that is nothing short of delightful.

Oh, there’s also The Apartment upstairs, a club-like space for when you want your revelry to take a different turn!

To book, or just take a look, go here.